IN THE RED! Flickering OIL light!

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

I was driving like I do...normal and all of a sudden the water temp starts to rise. It rose all the way to the red, and then my oil light starts flickering.

I pull over and check my oil, totally fine. I wait in the car 5 minutes, and drive off and the water temp starts to drop but not much.

What could this mean???? Oil cooler? Oil sending unit?

 

[wood_e]

How many miles? Your rod bearings are probably in need of attention. Either that or your oil got so hot it lost viscosity and dropped pressure.

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

Rod bearings...!? I sure hope not.

I have 104K. Could it be my OIL SENDING UNIT or TEMP SENDING UNIT?

Where are these 2 UNITS located??

 

[wood_e]

the oil sending uit may have malfunctioned but your rod bearings may be worn. I'm not sure where the sending unit is located. You may want to check your thermostat if your car is overheating. Does the fan come on?

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

I had the thermostat changed out about 6 monhts ago. I'm not even sure if my car is overheating, and I don't hear the fan turning on.

 

[wood_e]

First... I don't think the overheating and the oil light are related. I would change out your ECT (engine coolant temp sensor). This one tells the computer when to turn on the fan.
Wells PN SU201 I believe

The coolant temp sensor for the gauge is a 1 wire connector. I would replace that too.

With 104k on your engine your rod bearings may be on the way out.

Your oil pressure sending unit may be malfunctioning, but I doubt it.

http://kurtmetros.com/bearings.html

Check that link out

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

Is the ECT and coolant temp sensor (1 wire connector) the same thing? I will look into these sensors and units first, and see what happens.

Also, I just wanted to see what would happen when I took my SHO for a spin, drove like I do around town, and nothing happened. The 'temp' was within the normal range and the 'oil' light never turned on.

By this little early in the evening happened in stop and go traffic....

Thanks for all the info and weblink, I really appreciate it.

 

[wood_e]

No, the ECT is a 2 wire connector, The sensor for the gauge is a 1 wire connector.

The flickering oil light usually turns on (if the bearings are suspect) when the car is up to temperature and when the car is idling.

Does your car's lower end make any unusual noises?

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

I've warmed up my car this morning and I couldn't hear anything unusual from the car's lower end. I drove as usual and nothing happend this time. I will pick up an oil sending and temp sending unit as well as the ECT.

What is the sensor for the gauge with the 1 wire connector called?

 

[Ishodu]

The oil light could be related to the car over heating. It could lower the viscosity enough to trigger a flickering oil light at idle maybe. Turn on your AC if it works and make sure your cooling fan works, also what kind of T-stat did you install?
The senders you are looking for; the 1 wire sensor is for the gauge simply call it the temp sensor. The other one for the computer shall be called the ECT. The 1 wire sensor is just to the front of the Tstat. The ECT one is lower on the tube near where the upper and lower speedo cable attach. Its not easy to see. A 1" deep socket will get it out for you quite easy you just have to feel your way around. Do a search if you need a pic of it. There was one posted no long ago. Now the Oil pressure sender is located at the back of block near the rear O2 sensor connector. You can actually see it from above if you look for it and the single wire coming out of it.
At 100K you could also have some rod bearing ware, it really depends on the way its driven. If you look around the forum you will find many threads that talk about this.

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

I took my car out for lunch and a few errands around town and the temp needle started rising toward the red again. I also picked up an ECT, Oil Send and Temp Unit at AZ and OR. I hope 1 of these 3 modules resolves my issues.

If anyone has experienced the above, please let me know.

What was the other 1 gauge wire connector called?

 

[Fourcats]

Consider an oil pressure gauge or have the O/P tested, find the cause. You can "through part$ at it" for a long time. Oil pressure is not something to be hoping about...

 

[93_blk_blk_mtx]

Your right Fourcats, I should just have the oil pressure tested and find the cause. I figure do as much as I can before letting someone else mess with it.

What about an oil pump malfunction? Has anyone had this happen to them and what was the effects?

 

[Racer X]

If your temp got up to the "N" in normal, and the ambient was above 60, then the oil light will flicker. This is what happened to me when my rad. fan died one night in January, to the t.

 

[wood_e]

Oil pumps in SHOs rarley fail. I tihnk some have failed at 200k + miles but thats rare. I would see exactly what pressure your engine is putting out. Better safe than sorry. Good luck!

 

[SonicRiot]

Why is everyone saying his oil pressure sending unit is at fault?

He said the water temp rose, not the oil temp.

Jump the fan at the relay. This will test both the relay and the fan motor. If the fan motor spins and the relay clicks, check the resistance of the ECT.

I beleive when many cars overheat, the oil light will flicker. This is most likely a function of your problem, not the cause. It's not logical, but hey, anything's possible.

 

[Sho-Driver]

It sounds like your engine became warm enough to thin the oil. Combine that with potentially worn bearings and you will get an oil pressure light. At that milage, once the problem is found, I would not hesistat replacing the rod bearings.

 

[SonicRiot]

Or he's not using Mobil1.

 

[Sho-Driver]

Why is everyone saying his oil pressure sending unit is at fault?

He said the water temp rose, not the oil temp.

Although I do not believe the oil pressure sender is at fault, oil temp (many times) is hotter than the coolant. I've seen oil temp gauges peg out over 260 degrees while the water was around 210.

 

[wood_e]

Like I said in the 2nd post in this thread... it's entirley possible that his oil got very thin and combined with somewhat worn bearings caused the oil light to come on.

HOWEVER... It is important for him to know if his car is making good pressure to ensure that it was a fluke given the circumstances.